Improvement in car-couplings



NrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NINIAN H. DOLS-EN, OF OHATHAM, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,382, dated December 1, 1874; application filed October 9, 1874.

To all whom it may concer-n Beit known that I, NINIAN H. DoLsEN, of Chatham, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion ot' Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Coupling; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specilication, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved coupling, showing the coupling-pin depressed, one of the sections of the divided buffer being removed to show the working parts. Fig. 2

is an elevation looking from the opposite side.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section, showing the coupling-pin elevated. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the link, and Fig. 5 an edge view of the p ulley employed for elevating the couplingpm.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings denote the same parts.

This invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation of automatic car-couplings; and to this end it consists in the improved coupling which I will now proceed to describe and point out in the claims.

In the drawings, A represents the buffer, which is divided longitudinally into two sections, B O, suitably connected in such manner as to enable either section to be detached from the other. For the purpose of preventing the longitudinal displacement of the sections, I provide one of them with lugs 2, located at suitable points, and entering corresponding recesses 1 in the other. The buffer A is pro wided with a tapering mouth, b, having a contracted throat, Q, the latter opening into a chamber, H, in the back part of the butler. I represents a block adapted to slide in the chamber H, and provided with a horizontal rod projecting backward into a recess in the rear end of the buffer, within which is a spiral spring surrounding the rod J, and tending to force it with the block I toward the throat of the buffer. H is a recess extending npward from the chamber H, and containing an arm, 9, and a spring, 6, to be hereinafter described, the arm being adapted to oscillate in the recess H', and be engaged with a springcatch, 5, projecting from the rod J in' such manner as to be drawn backward by the catch until released, when it is 'forced forward by its spring 6. The upper end of the arm 9 is rigidly attached to a horizontal shaft or rod, T, extending through the side of the recess H into a chamber, F, in the outer side of the section B, where it is bent downward or provided with a downwardly-projecting dog or pawl, T1, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. E represents a grooved pulley, located on a short arbor or shaft, l0, the latter being journaled in bearings in the inner side of the chamber F, and a detachable plate, Gr, forming the outer side of said chamber, the pulley, with its shaft, being adapted to revolve therein. The inner side of the pulley is provided with a recess or notch, T2, with which the pawl T1 engages at a certain stage of the operation. N represents a tapering chamber, located over the center of the chamber H transversely, and opening into the latter through a suitable orilice, N. The chamber N is of such shape as to hold the volute spring M, the lower and smaller end of which bears on a shoulder on the upper end of the4 vertical coupling-pin O. The upper end of the chamber N is covered by a circular plate, Q, having a slot, q, on each side of which are vertical lugs q', forming the bearings of a pulley, U. V is a chain attached at one end to the shaft l0 of the pulley E, and passing upward through a suitable orifice into the tapering chamber N over the pulley U, and attached at its opposite end to the coupling-pin O. 7 is a cord or chain attached to the periphery of the grooved pulley E, and passing over a lsmaller pulley, l2, out of the buffer, and to any convenient point to be grasped by the operator. P represents a close cover placed over the plate Q and chamber N, said cover protecting the spring and oth er parts from moisture, &c. p is a rubber washer surrounding the rod J, and interposed between the block I and the rear wall of the chamber H, said washer converting the block I into a spring-buffer. 13 is a draw-bar, which is preferably screwed into a nut, X, located in a recess in the rear end of the divided buti'er A. R represents a horizontal sliding plate, located in a slot below the chamber H, and provided with a pin, R', projecting downward, by means of which it may be moved forward, so as to form an :abutment for the pin O to bear upon when depressed or retracted, so as to be out of the line ot the pm.

The operation is as follows: When the cars are coupled the parts are in the position shown in Fig. I, the link 8 being inserted in the chamber H, the block I, retracted, the pin 0 depressed, and the spring M expanded. To uncouple, the operator grasps the cord or chain 7, from any convenient point, and pulls Y it, thereby revolving the pulley E, the cord being wound upon the periphery of the latter. This operation winds the chain V upon the shaft 10, thereby elevating the pin O, which, as it rises, compresses the spring M, as shown in Fig. 3, and releases the link, the block I being forced outward by 'its spring K to the front of the chamber, thereby closing the throat as the link is withdrawinand excluding dirt, moisture, &c. The notch T2 of the pulley .E is so arranged as to engage with the pawl T.1 at the moment the pin O is drawn t0 its' utmost height, thereby locking the pulley and holding the pin in suspension, the spring 6 pressing against the arm 9 in such manner as to hold the pawl T1 against the notched portion ofthe pulley. When the shaft J and block I are forced outwardly on the withdrawal of the link, as above stated, the spring-catch 5 passes by the lower end of the arm 9, its end springing up after passing, so as to bear against the outer side of the arm. The parts are now in position for coupling, and when the link from the adjacent car enters the chamber Hit forces the block I, with its rod J and spring-catch 5,

- backward, the latter swinging back the lower end of the arm 9, thereby turning the rod T and disengagin g the pawl T1 from the pulley E, the latter releasing the pin O, which, under the impulse of the expansion of the spring M, is suddenly forced downward through the oriiee N and chamber H, engaging with the link.

therein. The coupling is thus performed automatically without the necessity of an attendant going between the cars, while the uneoupling, as above stated, can be effected from any part of the car or train to which the cord 7 may be conducted.

The cover P and block I effectually exclude dirt and moisture from the interior of the buii'- er, while the sectional construction oi' the buffer enables it to be readily taken apart for repairs; or', in case of the breakage of one section, it can be replaced without sacrificin g the entire buffer.

The elastic washer p, converting the block I into a spring-butter, relieves the shock of the entering link, and prevents the breakage ot' the latter. The spring M prevents the pin from being displaced by the motion of the cars when coupled. v

The sliding plate R may be pushed forward, so as to receive the concussion of the pin as it descends, before the spring M strikes the bottom of the chamber N, thereby relieving the latter. In case this is not desirable, however, the plate may be moved back, so that the pin will not come in contact with it.

I claim as my invention- I. The vertical pin O, combined with the volute spring M, arranged in a conical or tapering recess, with its smaller end downward, substantially as described.

2. The vertical sliding pin O, combined with a chain for raising it, a guide pulley over which said chain runs, and a wheel and cord or chain arranged in a chamber or recess at the side of the draw-head, for. the purpose ot conveniently applying the power to raise the pin, substantially as described.

3. The dog Tl, shaft T, and arm 9, combined with the notched pulley E, and with the sliding buffer I and its adjuncts, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. The spring-block or butt'er I, having the elastic washer p, in combination with the bui'i'er A, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

5. The sliding plate R, in combination with the slot g and pin O, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

N. H. DOLSEN. Witnesses:

J AMES' S. GRINNE'LL, T. (l. SMITH. 

